Ugandan Goldhttp://www.ugandangold.com
Great Coffee : New LifeMon, 12 Feb 2018 18:25:50 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.3http://www.ugandangold.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/cropped-cropped-UgandanGold_logo_square-32x32.pngUgandan Goldhttp://www.ugandangold.com
3232Say Good-bye to Daylight Savings Timehttp://www.ugandangold.com/2017/11/04/say-good-bye-to-daylight-savings-time/
http://www.ugandangold.com/2017/11/04/say-good-bye-to-daylight-savings-time/#respondSat, 04 Nov 2017 14:00:19 +0000http://www.ugandangold.com/?p=2505It’s that time of year again, time to “fall back”, time to reset your clocks and watches back one hour, time to give up a bit of daylight in the afternoon and gain a bit of daylight in the morning. It happens at 2 AM on Sunday, November 5th–like anyone stays up to 2 AM to make the switch.

It’s about more than just resetting the clocks–the time pieces in your home and your biological clock–it’s the official signal that shorter days are upon us and winter is approaching fast.

The country of Uganda spans the equator which means there are 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness, no matter what time of year it is. So, while we are preparing to snuggle in and hibernate, the coffee workers on the Ugandan Gold Coffee farm operate by a different calendar. It’s one that is demarcated by rainy seasons, dry seasons, and harvest seasons with the harvest season now approaching quickly. While we are shivering here in Pittsburgh, slogging through ice and snow, the farm workers in Uganda are toiling under the equatorial sun, reaping the benefits of a year’s work of labor.

Here, most of us are separated from the cycles of sowing and reaping, and we lose our ties to the bountiful earth, finding our sustenance in packaged goods from brightly-lit stores or ordered on-line and delivered by trucks to our doorstep. it takes an effort to remember where your food and drink has originated.

While you are savoring your cup of Ugandan Gold Coffee before stepping out into the cold November day, think of the Ugandan farmer whose labor made that cup possible and be grateful. And, remember to turn your clocks back an hour!!

]]>http://www.ugandangold.com/2017/11/04/say-good-bye-to-daylight-savings-time/feed/0What kind of coffee drinker are you?http://www.ugandangold.com/2017/09/21/what-kind-of-coffee-drinker-are-you/
http://www.ugandangold.com/2017/09/21/what-kind-of-coffee-drinker-are-you/#respondThu, 21 Sep 2017 16:02:31 +0000http://www.ugandangold.com/?p=2182I was recently given a book, Coffee Gives Me Superpowers (Iwata, Ryoko, 2016, Kansas City, MO, Hallmark Gift Books) which has an interesting section taken from a psychological study on how the way you drink your coffee shows certain personality traits.

According to the study, if you are a black coffee drinker, you are straightforward. Latte? A people-pleaser. Cappuccino? You are a creative person. Instant coffee? You wear rose-colored glasses. And espresso? You have a take-charge attitude. (Ibid., pgs. 42-45) Which are you?

None of the traits listed included “giving-back” which is the characteristic that I am most interested in. It’s no secret that our goal is to sell as much coffee as we can so that we can give back as much as possible to the Ugandan communities that are in need. That’s why we developed the coffee farm, are working on improving food production and, perhaps our effort with the most impact, drilling and rehabbing fresh water sources. If you are a Ugandan Gold Coffee drinker, no matter how you take your coffee, you care deeply about giving back to others.

]]>http://www.ugandangold.com/2017/09/21/what-kind-of-coffee-drinker-are-you/feed/0Thank youhttp://www.ugandangold.com/2017/05/27/thank-you/
http://www.ugandangold.com/2017/05/27/thank-you/#respondSat, 27 May 2017 10:00:09 +0000http://www.ugandangold.com/?p=2168When we drill a new borehole or rehab a broken one, the response is almost always the same. “Thank you for the water, thank you for loving us.” It’s simple, yet poignant. Here, in Pittsburgh, we get caught up in “stuff” which obscures what’s really important. Life can get complicated and we are forgetful of where we began and what matters most. Good health, jobs, education, everyday living–it all begins with water and love.

Thank you, Ugandan Gold Coffee drinkers, for participating with us in thousands of new beginnings over the last few years. And, we are just getting started!

]]>http://www.ugandangold.com/2017/05/27/thank-you/feed/0It’s not the end of the story…http://www.ugandangold.com/2017/05/20/its-not-the-end-of-the-story/
http://www.ugandangold.com/2017/05/20/its-not-the-end-of-the-story/#respondSat, 20 May 2017 10:30:48 +0000http://www.ugandangold.com/?p=2153It’s a major event in the life of a Ugandan village when they get a new borehole. It means so much to their health, lifestyle and success as a village. However, that is not the end of the story. Africa is littered with broken boreholes–by some estimates more than half of the boreholes are unusable. Half–this represents $360,000,000 of investment in fresh clean water which is now wasted. This represents millions of people who had health and hope and now have lost that health and hope.

Our approach has been to work with the local water authority and the village elders. We help them set up a water committee to be responsible for the maintenance and operation of the borehole they are receiving. Our manager makes it clear that the borehole belongs to them and they are responsible for keeping it operational. At this time, after more than 10 years and more than 100 boreholes, there is one which is not working and it was not a successful borehole from the very beginning. We went back, solved the difficulties of a dry and rocky place and drilled another one for them.

Partner with us to help create new solutions and new fresh water sources. Partner with us to give the gift of health and hope.

]]>http://www.ugandangold.com/2017/05/20/its-not-the-end-of-the-story/feed/0What day is it?http://www.ugandangold.com/2017/05/06/which-day-is-it/
http://www.ugandangold.com/2017/05/06/which-day-is-it/#respondSat, 06 May 2017 10:00:31 +0000http://www.ugandangold.com/?p=2142I receive a calendar that lists every national “day” throughout the year. As I write this on Thursday, May 4th, it is National Hoagie Day. I do not know who designates these selections, but it seems like everyone and everything has its special day. Some do not make sense to me, like May 30th being National Mint Julep Day when the Kentucky Derby is the first Saturday in May and that is when Mint Juleps are most likely to be consumed. Or the National Eat What you Want Day on May 11th. If you are doing the cooking, I think that would be every day.

What does this have to do with our coffee farm? Well, I think everyday should be National Coffee with Compassion Day. Why should consuming coffee that gives back to others only be the focus one day a year on National Coffee Day (September 29th)? Why not make your consumption of coffee be a difference-maker in the lives of thousands every day?

The first Earth Day was April 22, 1970–almost 50 years ago. I think we take it for granted today and we ignore the effects of our everyday decisions on this fragile planet. Life is a gift; we didn’t do anything to earn it or deserve it. With the gift comes responsibility–good stewardship of the life we’ve been given, the resources we have available, and the planet where we live.

Ugandan Gold Coffee takes that responsibility seriously and when you choose our coffee, you are partnering with us in that responsibility. We appreciate your partnership and, in honor of Earth Day, our regular roast coffee, ground and whole bean, is on sale now through April 25th. Click here to get your coffee now: Buy Online

]]>http://www.ugandangold.com/2017/04/22/earth-day/feed/0Grateful for Winterhttp://www.ugandangold.com/2017/04/15/grateful-for-winter/
http://www.ugandangold.com/2017/04/15/grateful-for-winter/#respondSat, 15 Apr 2017 10:00:40 +0000http://www.ugandangold.com/?p=2107When I was growing up in Massachusetts, the winter was always cold and the ground snow-covered. March would eventually come, still snow-covered and cold, but there would be a day or two toward the end of March and the beginning of April where there was a hint of springtime in the air. My dad drove a small Fiat Biachina which had a sun roof and on these days, he would open that roof, find a puddle to drive through and sing at the top of his lungs, “Welcome sweet Springtime, we greet thee in song, Murmurs of gladness fall on the ear..” There was a sense of excitement on those days–was Spring finally here? Would the puddle be deep enough to get us wet? Would we have a sunny Easter or a snowy one? Would there be any flowers to enjoy? When would it finally be warm enough to go without a coat?

It was still cold, of course, but the promise and the hope of warmer days to come was in the air.

Sunshine, cheery and warm, is more appreciated after the long, cold, gray days of winter. The colder and longer the winter, the greater the gratefulness when spring finally arrives. Can I truly be grateful for something until I have lost it for awhile? So, this year, I am grateful for the winter we’ve had, and grateful for the renewal of springtime which brings flowers, baby lambs, the hope of Easter and the promise of new life for each of us.

During our recent visit to Uganda, we spent one day at a Displaced Persons Camp, a DPC. These people were part of a tribe which had been removed from land they had lived on which was due to be developed. As they didn’t own the land, they have been removed to a site nearby. The case has been in the courts for 3 years and is still undecided. And they wait patiently. We went to help The Open Door ministry group which visits once a month and treats the children for various problems like ringworm and jiggers. It was a sad and sobering day for most of us. The reality of our extremely comfortable homes here in the USA contrasted harshly with the living conditions of these people who are simply caught between a rock and a hard place. The ability to visit a doctor, hospital or clinic which is easily available to most of us is almost nonexistent there. There are millions of people around the world in DPCs–38 million in 2016 (http://www.internal-displacement.org/about-us/).

Before you go to sleep in your (probably) comfortable bed tonight, think of what you can do to make this world a little better for those less fortunate.

We conduct medical clinics at the Ugandan Gold Coffee farm for the workers and their families. Perhaps you can help us with the next one. Simply donate here: Donate

Every time you buy a bag of Ugandan Gold Coffee, you help the people who have a job on the coffee farm, enabling them to take care of their families in a way that would not be possible otherwise. Thank you!

]]>http://www.ugandangold.com/2017/04/01/dpc/feed/4Dancing and Celebratinghttp://www.ugandangold.com/2017/03/25/dancing-and-celebrating/
http://www.ugandangold.com/2017/03/25/dancing-and-celebrating/#respondSat, 25 Mar 2017 11:00:23 +0000http://www.ugandangold.com/?p=2073Do you ever get the feeling that you just don’t know how to celebrate well? Do you wonder what you’re missing out on? Watching some of the workers dance at a recent coffee farm celebration made me acutely aware that celebration is something I do poorly if I do it at all.

Taking time out of the routine to celebrate the good things in our lives will help us cope when the bad things come. Dancing–psychically moving–to celebrate does more than increase your energy. It can increase your ability to handle setbacks and can enhance an optimistic outlook on life. Look for things to celebrate and then get out of your chair and dance!

]]>http://www.ugandangold.com/2017/03/25/dancing-and-celebrating/feed/0Be mindful..http://www.ugandangold.com/2017/03/22/be-mindful/
http://www.ugandangold.com/2017/03/22/be-mindful/#respondWed, 22 Mar 2017 12:28:14 +0000http://www.ugandangold.com/?p=2050Just for today, since it’s World Water Day, take a little extra care on how you use this precious, life-giving resource.

Simple ways to conserve include turning off the water while you brush your teeth, wash your hands or wash your hair. Take short showers instead of a bath.

Do not run the dishwasher unless it’s full and if you hand wash your dishes, do not keep the water running while you rinse.

When washing clothes, do only full loads and make sure to adjust the water level for the amount of clothes in the machine.

Keep a container of water in the refrigerator for drinking instead of running the faucet until the water’s cold.

Fix all leaky pipes and toilets–a “running” toilet can waste more than 100 gallons a day! (http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/ws/wtrcnsv.html)

Perhaps, after doing this for just one day, because it’s World Water Day, you will be encouraged to do it everyday. You can be an example to your family and friends on the simplicity of conserving this valuable resource which we so often take for granted.